RTI applicant complaints of harassment

After a gap of few years, there are newer ways now in which RTI applicants face problems in getting information. This time it was wrong receipt that an applicant got and was harassed for not getting information despite paying the amount he was asked to pay by the public authority.

Anand Bhandare, from Worli had filed an RTI application seeking details of storm water drains in his locality.

"They had said that they have allocated some funds for Brihanmumbai storm water disposal system (Brimstowad) in the budget. I wanted to know the provisions for the area along with the proposals. I had filed my application in June," said Bhandare.

On July 3, Bhandare was asked to give a letter and was told to make payment after a challan was made.

When Bhandare went to pay the money at the citizen facilitation centre, he was given a receipt that changed the acronym from SWD, which stands for storm water drain to SWM (solid waste management). Just for that, the PIO refused to give me information," said Bhandare even though at the top of the receipt Storm Water Department is written.

"They made me run around for four days before that too. They gave me a challan with old tax structure and not with GST even though it was given on July 3 when the new structure should have been in place. They did not have the aerial code and asked me to come a few times," said Bhandare.